How to Replace the Shocks and Struts in a Dodge Caravan

The Dodge Caravan holds more people and more cargo than a car and provides a comfortable ride. Keep it that way by replacing your shocks and struts after 60,000 miles under normal driving conditions. With the proper tools you can do it, and it' much less expensive than paying a mechanic to do it for you. This process works best for model years 2000 to 2005.

Instructions

Replace the Front Struts in a Caravan

1

Raise your Caravan with a jack, and support the frame with jack stands. Remove the front wheels with a tire iron, and locate the strut assemblies. They look like two tubes that slide in and out of each other and connect to the steering knuckle and the frame of the minivan.

2

Remove the bolts holding down the brake hose and speed sensor bracket to the side of the strut with a ratchet. The brake hose is a flexible part that runs from the wheel hub past the strut.

3

Disconnect the stabilizer bar link from the strut assembly by removing the nut about midway between the top and bottom of the assembly. Use the ratchet to pull off the steering knuckle bracket bolts on the bottom of the assembly and the upper strut mounting nuts. Pull out the strut assembly and mark which side of the car it came from with a permanent marker.

4

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the front of the car.

5

Compare the old struts to the new ones to figure out which strut goes on which side. Mount the new strut assembly, and attach the upper mounting nuts. Adjust your torque wrench to 21 ft-lb, and tighten the nuts until you feel the wrench slip. Reattach the steering knuckle bracket in the same position as the original, and torque the bolts to 60 ft-lb. Then turn the bolts an additional quarter turn.

6

Attach the stabilizer bar link nut, and torque it to 65 ft-lb. Align the bracket for the wheel speed sensor and the brake hose to the strut assembly and insert the bolts. Torque them to 10 ft-lb. Mount the front wheels again, and lower the Caravan from the jack stands.

Replace the Rear Shocks in a Caravan

7

Lift the rear end of your Caravan, and support the frame with jack stands. Support the rear axle with a jack stand as well. Locate the shock absorber, which looks like a slender tube that slides in and out of a slightly larger tube. Unbolt the upper and lower mounting bolts, and remove the shocks from the rear suspension.

8

Align the new shocks properly and mount the upper and lower bolts. Torque them to 65 ft-lb.

9

Remove the jack stands, and lower the rear end of the Caravan.